I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked what I want to be when I grow up. And now that I’ve turned 18 and am going to college in the fall, the number of times I’ve been asked has doubled. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not angry that people are asking me; it is just frustrating not to have a specific answer when everyone else around me seems to have their entire lives planned out.
For a while, I was so concentrated on trying to find my “calling” in the world, that I would spend hours on career websites trying to find a profession that I liked. There was a time I wanted to be a teacher, another when I wanted to be an astronaut, and I also wanted to be a meteorologist. My interests were all over the place, but I pursued all of them and I am grateful for each of those experiences.

Over the course of my high school career, I completed a few internships, some community service, and some after school programs. Each one of them taught me something about myself. For example, my internship with a youth media company taught me that I am willing to step up and be a leader, something I thought I would never do because I am more of a shy person.

When the time came for me to apply to colleges, I realized I had so many activities to put on my resume, and knew what I did NOT want to do when I got older. That is why it is ok if you don’t have a set plan for your life while you are in high school. This is the perfect time to go out and pursue opportunities to see what you may or may not like. When you get older, there will be less chances for you to do so, so it’s best to take advantage now (It is better to decide now that you don’t want to be a lawyer, rather than waiting until you are in your second year of law school).

Now, I am learning to accept this period of uncertainty I am having, which is why I am writing this post. I know my interests were all over the place, but isn’t that what going up is all about? This is the time when you make mistakes, change your mind, and just live life. Oh, and if you were wondering, right now I am interested in public relations, social media, event planning, and, personal branding, and I plan on majoring in Strategic Communications in college.

Are you feeling lost, or feel that you hit a wall when it comes to career planning? Leave a comment below or use the contact form if you have any questions.